Pentax K-x (space white)
Following up on their K-7, Pentax has now come up with an entry-level K-x. While it doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking that wasn’t already seen on the K-7, it packs in many of the features seen on many competitors’ midrange model, and perhaps pending reviews on image quality and disregarding the overall Pentax system upgrade options, is probably the best choice out there currently for the beginning photographer/student.
The big headline features:
- 12.4MP CMOS (different from the K-7 14.6MP sensor, but interestingly also uses CMOS unlike all previous Pentaxes which used CCDs)
- ISO up to 12.8k
- Live-view with face-detect AF
- 720p, 24fps video
- 4.7fps continuous shooting
- $650 MSRP with 18-55 kit lens (and likely to drop further once it gets off pre-order)
A comparison:
Pentax K-x comparison
| Camera | Canon Rebel XS | Nikon D3000 | Pentax K-x | Nikon D5000 | Canon Rebel T1i |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor, crop | 10MP, 1.6x | 10MP, 1.5x | 12MP, 1.5x | 12MP, 1.5x | 15MP, 1.6x |
| ISO range | 100-1600 | 100-3200 | 100-12800 | 200-6400 | 100-12800 |
| Live-view? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live view AF | Yes | None | Yes, face-detect | Yes, face-detect | Yes, face-detect |
| Video | None | None | 1280x720, 24fps | 1280x720, 24fps | 1920x1080, 20fps |
| AF | 7pt, 1 cross-type | 11pt, no cross | 11pt, 9 cross-type | 11pt, 1 cross-type | 9pt, 1 cross-type |
| Continuous FPS | 3fps jpg, 1.5fps raw | 3fps | 4.7fps | 4fps | 3.4fps |
| Image stabilization | lens-based | lens-based | sensor-based | lens-based | lens-based |
| Size | 127 x 97 x 61mm | 127 x 97 x 64mm | 122 x 91 x 69mm | 127 x 104 x 79mm | 130 x 97 x 61mm |
| Weight | 450g | 485g | 516g | 560g | 480g |
| Price (with kit lens, Amazon) | $499.95 | $529.95 | $649.95 | $719.63 | $781.89 |
In a comparison with the $500 entry-level cameras, the K-x blows them away in nearly aspect, and goes toe-to-toe or even exceeds the D5000 and Rebel T1i in every single category, despite being significantly cheaper (especially once the street price drops lower from MSRP)
Interestingly enough, the Pentax K-x will come in a variety of colors, including an ultra-spiffy red (below), the space white shown above, and your ordinary black.
Interestingly enough, Pentax Japan features a site where you can come up with your own custom color scheme, and apparently order it as well, which personally is an insanely appealing prospect.
Pentax K-x (red)
Pentax K-x custom design - design your own!
I think this is a ranking of custom designs that users have created
